Hello,

I failed my state inspection because of faulty brake lights.(Among other things which I fixed) I have an 85 244 with the six panel lights. I replaced the top brake bulbs in both sides with new ones to no avail. All of the other constant brake lights(Bottom row) work properly. I assumed since it is the same problem in both sides that it was in the wiring but I swapped in another complete tailight in one side and it worked fine.

The problem seems to be when pressure is applied to the brake the lower lights get brighter but the top one dosent do anything. Where should I look to fix the problem..dthe circuit board on the tailight assembly?...the wiring?...How do I go about fixing this without buying a whole new tailight? Thanks for any suggestions.

Later, Jon

my were going wacko before too. so just as a guess....check the ground for the whole unit (usually screwed into the trunk opposite the licence plate). Replace the screws and make sure they are TIGHT!!!!!! then try it...

Read your owners manual to make sure you (and the inspector) understand the proper function and operation of the lights. I have an '85 sedan and the lower outer lights are the brake lights. The upper safety lights are controlled by the toggle switch on the dash above the headlight switch and can only be turned on when the headlights are on as others have stated.

I too, have had problems with the wiring connectors and the printed circuit boards on the rear tail light assemblies, but they can be repaired. The connector pins can bite through or burn the contacts on the printed circuit board which happened on my '85. Also know that the right hand tail light assembly is fed through the left (drivers) side, so if you are having problems on the right side, then you need to also check the wiring on the left.

Good luck!


DeWayne

There is often a weak connection where the bulb holder contacts the circuit boards, clean the board with a pencil eraser, and bend the bulb holder contacts toward the board just a wee bit.

Check the contacts inside the bulb holders. Also check the connector that hooks the wiring harness onto the circuit board. It can be opened up, and the wires carefully removed and the endings cleaned and squeezed a tiny bit tighter. Avoid getting them mixed about in the connector.

In my Volvo Wiring diagram manual for the 1985 240, no fog lights show up. The lower outer and lower inner lights on a rear light assembly are the tail or marker lights. Only the upper inner shows as a brake light.

When the Fed sed that beginning in 1986 "Thou shalt have a high level brake light" Volvo putzed around with the tail light panels something wonderful.

Beginning in 1986 the lower outer got a dual filament bulb holder and became a combination tail and brake light. The lower inner stayed a marked light. The upper inner became a fog light, 21W bulb controlled from that dash switch just below the headlight switch. On only with low beams. Also, turning off the ignition on the 86 + turns off the headlights, nice. Oh, and they put a hight level brake light up in the rear window, too. It IS in the Bulb Failure Warning System.

The bulb failure sensor relay can sometimes cause weird problems, too. Check by (at night) backing into a parking spot where you can look in the rear view mirror and see the rear lights reflected like in a store window. Try the brakes, and give the bottom of the dashboard a gentle upward whack between the door and the steering column.

Another thing is the brake light switch. It is down by the brake pedal pivot. You can jump the switch and see if that makes any difference.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

I have dealt with this problem as well, B.C.'s advice is sound..problem solved!

The 2 LOWER outside lights are brake lights. The upper inner red lights are rear fog lights, which come on with headlights on and rear fog switch on. Thats the switch between the headlight switch and the dash light dimmer switch. The uppers are not brake lights.